SCBWI ACT Have Been Busy

ACT SCBWI news

December finished with lots of celebrations. 

It was a packed crowd at the ACT Writers Centre Book of the Year Awards for 2015 and an exciting time with two of our members- Pauline Deeves winning the 2015 ACT  Publishing and Writing Award- Children’s Fiction Category for her book Midnight Burial, and Tania McCartney awarded Highly Commended for her picture book Tottie and Dot. 

Congratulations ladies.

Our SCBWI Christmas gathering rocked. We had a terrific turn up for drinks at The Mint Bar, Arts Gorman House. Loads of chatting, drinking, eating, laughing and some discussion for ideas and new adventures for 2016.

Popular ideas suggested: In the beautiful months of Autumn, head out of town on a rural writing/illustrating escapade. Literary lunches on a Sunday that may include a winery, and ‘Show and Tell’ events with new and visiting guest speakers. Plenty more to come in general meetings. This year is the year of conferences so we shall work around dates for those.

Our first meeting for the year is scheduled for late February/early March and plans and dates to be confirmed for our year ahead. 

The ACT membership is growing and we had the privilege to meet some new members at xmas drinks.

SCBWI ACT was included in a blog on Capital Letters by Shu-Ling Chua, current blogger in residence at the ACT Writers Centre. Canberra’s Literary scene is exploding with creativity! To read more http://actwritersblog.com/2016/01/12/a-literary-guide-to-canberra/

2016 also brings a new and exciting interaction for three SCBWI members, Tania McCartney, Irma Gold and Tracey Hawkins who have been invited to be Ambassador’s for the ACT Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge. More details to come later.

It looks to be a very active, fun year ahead for SCWBI ACT.

SA Spring Retreat

On Sunday the 11th of October, SA SCBWI hosted their Spring Retreat at The Astor Hotel in Adelaide. A group of 27 aspiring and published authors and illustrators gathered together, forming a haven of creativity and inspiration. 

We kicked of the day with fellow SA member, Mandy Foot, who shared her role in the process of illustrating children’s picture books. We were in awe of the thorough research, consideration and detail that she puts into each breathtaking spread. Many snapped up the opportunity to get their own signed copy of Mandy’s new book, ‘This Little Roo went to Market.’

Our next speaker was local YA author and new member, Rosanne Hawke, who took us on a journey into her creative mind. Rosanne’s ability to mesh history with fantasy, layer stories and create genuine characters was truly thought provoking. By this point, fingers were were beginning to twitch with renewed motivation.

Our last speaker was Adelaide picture book publisher, Jane Covernton, from Working Title Press. Jane shared some positive statistics on print sales (yay!) and some very helpful tips from Australian publishers and editors. We gained an insight into what publishing houses are currently seeking, as well as the market in other countries.

SCBWI members continued with an afternoon of invaluable sharing time- from useful resources to those burning questions. The creation of a bouquet of book-flowers for an unwell member was just another way to express what this group is really about- friendship and support for one another.

The perfect end to the day was not-a-book launch for Vikki Wakefield’s new novel,

‘Inbetween Days.’ Some champagne, some laughs, and of course, a new book to read- what more could anyone ask for?     

Carrie